heywoqd



V. E. HEYWOQD.

ENVELOP MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED DECZG. me.

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PATENT ()FFIE.

VINCENT E. HEYWCCD,

WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TC UNITED STATES ENVELOBE COMPANY 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE ENVELOP MACHINERY.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, VINCENT woou, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester,

State of Massachusetts, have invented a cerusually supplied in large rolls. The strip of paper is fed generally to cutters by means of intermittent feed rolls located adjacent to till such cutters. On account of the thinness of the paper, it is a diificult matter to feed the same without tearing. When the paper becomes torn it generally necessitates the stopping of this particular machine and, as these cuttlng machines are usually operated in di rect connection with the machine makin the envelops, both machines are stoppe These machines operate at a very high rate of speed :and thus even a fewstops in the course of a day willcause a considerable loss in roduction.

' he primary object of thepresent invention is to provide means for feeding the paper from the supply roll to the intermittent feed rolls in such a manner that the paper can never sag and thus the snap ing action resulting from such sagging o .the strip is eradicated. Heretofore it has been customary to use for this purpose a tension roll having its extremities mounted in vertically slotted plates. The strip of paper passed beneath such tension roll and the pull on the paper caused the roll to be raised 1n the slot. When the intermittent feed rolls stopped, the tension roll gradually descended as the paper continued to be advanced by the rolls which draw the same from the source ofv sup ly. If these feed rolls which first draw .t e paper from the source of supply advance the paper at exactly the right speed for the intermittent feed rolls, this tension or compensating roll would prevent any slackening of the paper, but if the first feeding means operates a little more rapidlv than the paper is needed by the second or inter Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1, 1919..

Application filed December 26, 1916. Serial No. 138,932;

mittent feeding means, the tension roll will gradually drop lower and lower in its slotsuntil ultimately it reaches the bottom and thus becomes ineffective. sults. Likewise if the paper is advanced by the first feeding means slower than it is needed by the second or intermittent feeding means, soon these feeding means will loe practically acting in. opposition and a rupture of the aper will occur. It is-an exceedingly di cult matter to secure the exact relative rate of feed.

In the present invention mechanismhas been provided by which the first feeding means will'automatically cease to be operative instantly when the tension on the strip is released in the manner which will be fully described hereinafter.

, One embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings in which:

Elgllle 1 is a rear elevationof the inven tion com lete.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 1, and 1 Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Referring to the drawings, the present 2--2- of Fig.

Slack paper reembodiment of the device is shown mounted upon a frame 10 adapted to be supported on the usual bed. On the main driving shaft 11 is secured the worm gear 12 in mesh with the gear 13 upon the stud shaft 14: supported in the-bracket 14 on the upper portion of the frame On this stud shaft 14' is likewise secured the gear 15 in mesh with the gear 16 on theshaft 17 mounted in bearings 18 and 19 in the frame.

. On this shaft 17 is mounted the frictional ,feed cylinder 20 whichis adapted to draw the strip of paper from the supply roll (not shown) and feedit to the intermittent feed rolls in the manner which willbe described more fully hereinafter. In the present embodiment of the invention this roll 20 is preferably of wood highly polished. The

main power shaft 11 preferably rotates continuously, producing a continuous rotation of the feed cylinder 20.

Mounted on the sleeve 11 secured'to the main driving shaft 11 is a cam 21 which is adapted to coact with the cam roll or follower 22 secured to the. yoke 23 by means of 1 the stud shaft 24 which has its inner extremity 25 seated in such yoke. This yoke is in the present embodiment formed what might be described as Y-shaped, comprising a lower portion or stem 23 and two arms 23 and 23 projecting upwardly therefrom and separated suificlently to permit the sleeve 11 on the driving shaft 11 to pass therebetween and act as a vertical guide for the yoke. Springs 26 and 27 best shown in Fig. 1 normally maintain this yoke 23 in its raised position, but the action of the cam on the cam follower mentioned causes such yoke to be depressed periodically. The yoke is here supported betweenthe hub 28 on the cam 21 and the portion 29 of the frame 10.

Mounted on the lower extremity or stem 23 of the yoke 23 is a rack 30 which meshes with the pinion 31 on the stud shaft 32. This pinion 31 is free on such shaft 32. Upon the hub 33 of the pinion 31 is an arm 34 having pivotally mounted in its outer extremity a pawl 35 controlled by the spring 36. This pawl is adapted to engage the racket '37 which is secured to the face of the gear 38zlikewise free upon the shaft 32. Secured to the opposite face of the gear 38 is a friction disk or spool 39. This gear 38 is in mesh with the gear 40 on the shaft 41. On this shaft 41 is mounted a spool 42 which is provided with a peripheral groove adapted to receive the rear portion 0 the lower extremity of the yoke 23 to act as a support for such extremity. This spool is free .upon the shaft.

Upon this shaft 41 is mounted the upper feed roll 43 and the pinion gear 44, the latter being in mesh with a like pinion gear 45 on the shaft 46. On. this shaft 46 are a plurality of feed rolls 47 adapted to coact with the face of the feed roll 43. For convenience of description hereinafter, all the small feed rolls 47 on the shaft 46 will be considered as forming one feed roll 47, this roll having been so divided into segments to facilitate the separation or picking of the patch paper from the rolls by means of fingers entering therebetween, in the manner common to this type of machine.

Above the feed roll 43 is mounted an idler roll 48. On the frame are mounted two oppositely disposed guide bars 49 and 49 provided with opposing vertical slots 50 and 50*, respectively. Having its extremities mounted in the opposing slots 50 and 50 in the guide bars-49 and 49, is the shaft 51 on which is mounted the tension roll 52. This shaft 51 is therefore free to slide vertically Within the limits of the slots 50 and 50. Above the frictional feed roll 20 are mounted two idler rolls 53 and 54. v

The rotation of the shaft 11 produces a continuous rotation of the cam 21, in turn causing a vertical reciprocation of the cam follower 22 and the yoke 23 attached thereto.

' As the yoke 23 descends under the action of the cam 21, the rack 30 carried on the stem of the yoke causes the pinion 31 to be rotated a distance depending on the travel of the 'paper by the feed rolls 43 and 47.

rack, producing a corresponding swinging of the arm 34 and the pawl 35 carried thereby. In Fig. 3 of the drawings the yoke and rack are shown in their uppermost positions and the pawl has just engaged one of the shoulders 55 on the ratchet 37. This ratchet is so designed that the pawl will produce sufficient rotation of the gear 38 connected thereto to provide the nccessar feed of the In the embodiment shown in the drawings the angle of advance of the ratchet is shown to be about sixty degrees.

The frictional disk or spool 39 acts as a brake on the gear 38 to prevent such gear from continuing to rotate after the pawl has advanced its full travel. These friction spools or brakes are so well known that no particular description thereof is here deemed necessary. The step by step rotation of the gear 38 in the manner described. produces a similar rotation of the gear 40 fastened on the shaft 41 on which the feed roll 43 is fixedly mounted, so that each downward stroke of the rack 30 causes such feed roll 43 to be rotated an amount depending on the travel of the rack and the ratio of the gears through which the motion is transmitted. As soon as the cam 21 has caused the rack 30 to be depressed to its fullest extent, its conformation is such that the rack is permitted to rise under the action of the springs 26 and 27 until such rack has reached its uppermost posit-ion. As this rack 30 is drawn upwardly in the manner described, it produces a corresponding rotation of the pinion 31, causing the arm 34 to swing and to draw the pawl 35 from engagement with one shoulder on the ratchet 37 rearwardly into engagement with the next shoulder thereon, ready for the next downward stroke of the rack. While the rack is thus rising the gear 38 remains stationary and thus there is a corresponding period of dwell of the feed roll 43 and the feed roll 47 geared thereto.

In the drawings Fig. 2. the sheet of paper 56 leaving the supply roll (not shown) passes over the idler 54, under the friction .feed roll 20, then over the idler 53, then under the tension roll 52, then over the idler 57, between the idler 48 andthc upper side vof the feed roll 43. between the feel roll 43 and 47 and through the guide slot 58. hen sufiicient length of strip has passed outwardly from this guide slots 58 the feed rolls 43 and 47 stop, and the knife 59 severs the patch. As the knife mechanism forms no part of the present invention no description of the same is necessary here.

As was previously stated, the feed roll 20 is preferafly provided with a highly pol ishcd wood or other very smooth surface so that it will not act to draw the paper 56 from the supply roll unless the paper passing about this roll 20 is under tension.

mo em When there is little or no tension upon the ow starting the machine, the friction roll 20 would begin its continuous revolution and the rolls 43 and t7, theirintermittent feed.

As there is at the start no tension on the paper passing about the feed roll 20, none would be drawn from the supply roll until .the intermittent feed rolls advanced the paper sufliciently'to cause the tension roll 52 to be raised in its guide slots as shown in the drawings Fig. 1. The weight of this tension roll 52 would then draw the stri of paper tightly about the roll 20 and tlere would then be sufficient frictional resistance between the paper and this frictional roll to cause such roll to draw more paper from the supply roll. The rate of revolution of this roll 20 should be at least suflicient so that when the paper is in full frictional engagement therewith, itv will be advanced more rapidly than it is needed by the intermittent feedrolls. ()n thisaccount the tension roll 52 gradually descends to the bottom of the slots while the friction roll 20is feeding, at which time this frictional feed roll would instantly cease to operate for the reasons stated. The yielding action of the tension roll takes care of the initial pull at each advance of the intermittent feed rolls, so that the maximum strain which can come upon the paper is that of lifting this tension roll and there is no opportunity for the paper to become slack or sagfor the reasons set forth.

This invention has been described in its relation to the art of making envelops, but it will readily. be seen that the device is equally applicable to a labeling machine or any other mechanisnrin which it is desired to feed paper or any other material having similar properties.

What ll claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. In a deviceo'f the class'described, a continuously rotating feed cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder, idlers adapted to hold a strip of paper in contact with the peripheral surface of said feed cylinder whereby said cylinder shall advance said strip when the strip is under tension, but shall rotate freely relative to the strip when there isnotension on the strip, intermittent acting feed rolls to receive and feed the strip after it has passed some distance from said feed cylinder, and a compensating tension device between said continuously rotating feed cylinder and said intermittent feed rolls. i P

2. Tu a device of the class described, a continuously rotating feed cylinder having a smoothly polished peripheral surface, means for rotating said cylinder, idlers adapted to hold a strip of paper in contact with the peripheral surface of said feed cylinder whereby said cylinder shall advance said strip when the strip is under tension, but shall rotate freely relative to the strip when there is no tension on the strip, intermittent acting feed rolls to receive and feed thestrip after it has passed some distance from said feed cylinder, and a compensating tension device between said continuously rotating feed cylinder and said intermittent feed rolls.

'3. In a device of the class described, a continuou'sly rotating feed cylinder, means for rotat ng said cylinder, idlers adapted to hold a strip-of paper in contact with the peripheral surface of said feed cylinder whereby said cylinder shall advance said strip when the strlp 1s undertension, but

shall rotate freely relative to the strip when there is no tension on the strip, intermittent acting feed rolls to. receive and feed the strip after it has passed some distance from said feed cylinder, and a compensating tension device between said continuously rotating feed cylinder and said intermittent feed rolls, the peripheral surface of the continuously rotatin feed cylinder being greater han the sur .ace feed of the said intermittent feed rolls when the said latter rolls are rotating.

4. lln a device ofthe classdescri'bed, feeding means comprising a continuously revolv-.

ing frictional feed cylinder having a peripheral face of highly polished wood, idlers located adjacent thereto adapted to hold a strip of aper threaded therethrough in contact with such peripheral surface over a com slderable portion thereof, and means for rotating said frictional feed cylinder whereby such cylinder shall advance such strip when the strip is under tension but shall rotate freely relative to-the strip when there is no tension on such strip.

5'. llna device of the class describothfeeding means comprising a continuously revolving frictional feed cylinder; idlers located adjacent thereto adapted to hold a strip of paper threaded therethrough in contact with the peripheral surface of said feed cylinder over a considerable portion thereof, and means for rotating said frictional feed cylinder whereby such cylinder shall advance such strip when the strip is under tension but shall rotate freely relative to the strip when there 18 no tension on such strip.

6a In a device of the class described, means Vance feed mechanism to maintain the strip in frictional engagement ,with said feed-cylinder, guide ways in which said tension roll is free to dro to maintain the tension if the strip is fed by said cylinderfaster than it is taken u by the said advance feed, and a stop which limits the extent of drop oftthe tension roll whereby when the tension roll engages said stop the tension will be released and the cylinder will rotate freely relative tothe strip. I 7. In a device of the character described, feed rolls, a continuously revolving feed cylinder to feed a strip of paper to said feed rolls, a yieldingly mounted tension roll to maintain the stri with said feed cyli fed when it is under tension of said roll,

guide ways in which said tension roll is free to drop to maintain-the tension if the strip is fed by the cylinder faster than it is taken up by said feed rolls, and a stop which limits drives the said continuousl in frictional engagement, nder whereby the strip is the extent of drop of the tension roll in the guide ways whereby when the tension roll engages said stop the tension will be released from said feed cylinder and the feed cylinder will rotate freely relative to the strip.

8. In a device of the class described, a continuously rotating feed cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder, idlers located adjacent thereto adapted to hold a strip of paper in contact with the peripheral surface of said feed cylinder whereby such cylinder shall advance said strip when the strip is under tension, intermittent acting feed rolls to receive and feed the strip after it has come from said feed cylinder, a continuously rotating cam driven by the mechanism which rotatin cylinder, mechanismrcontrol ed by said cam to intermittently actuate said feed rolls and a compensating tension roll between said continuously rotating feed cylinder and said intermittent feed roll.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VINCENT E. HEYWOOD.

Witnesses:

HARTLEY-W. BARTLE'I'I, HANNAH M. KENNEDY.

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